Changes to using Dire Animals in PFS?


Pathfinder Society

The Exchange 5/5

Ok, I heard a rumor that there has been a change recently to what animals a PC can own/use in PFS. Due maybe to the release of Ultimate Wilderness or something?

Something about removing access to Dire Bats?

here, let me give the full background

The Long Story:
Back in 2015, my sister decided one of her PC fighters wanted to buy a Dire Bat Mount. I think it came from my son saying we should have a set of PCs who all rode Bats that we'd call "Echo Squadron"... Yeah, puns! So my sisters PC (named "Chuck") is just a fighter, focused on thrown weapons. And so the Dire Bat (named "G'wano") was purchased, along with exotic saddle, bridle, saddle bags, etc.
Each game Chuck plays in she shows up with "G'wano" in tow, asks "Is it ok if I bring my Bat G'wano in here?" or "Can I bring my Bat G'wano along on this trip?" etc... Each game the judge explains why the large bat mount needs to be left behind, in the stable, off camera, etc...

The PC has invested in:
* Cat Boots (in case of falling),
* Skill Ranks in Ride (not "Fly"), and Handle Animal,
* The Vanity: Squire. in order to care for the mount - and to streamline the bookkeeping of
The Player has invested in:
* Several figures of Dire Bats in various poses (standing on the ground, in flight, etc.)
* Several rules documents that are needed to gain access...

Over the years, as the PC has leveled, she's kept G'wano's documentation up-to-date - just in case she actually get's too run it... which so far she has not...

finally it looks like she is going to get to use the mount in part of an up-coming game (tonight in fact)... and ... the rumor pops up that Dire Animals are no longer allowed in the game.

so - can a PC buy/own/use a Dire Bat riding animal?

5/5 5/55/55/5

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Additional resources under ultimate equipment, but I believe its a global rule for buying attack critters

Equipment: Only creatures of the animal type of size Large and smaller may be purchased. No eggs are legal for play. A PC can only purchase an animal, mount, or similar creature if its Challenge Rating is lower than that character's level; creatures with a Challenge Rating of 1 or lower are exempt from this restriction, as are horses.

The Dire bat is a CR 2 , So you should be able to use them once you're third level. I don't know if you were under that level when the DM told you no, the dm didn't understand the rule, or if there's some other rule that either applies or the DM thought applied.

The Exchange 5/5

BigNorseWolf wrote:

Additional resources under ultimate equipment, but I believe its a global rule for buying attack critters

Equipment: Only creatures of the animal type of size Large and smaller may be purchased. No eggs are legal for play. A PC can only purchase an animal, mount, or similar creature if its Challenge Rating is lower than that character's level; creatures with a Challenge Rating of 1 or lower are exempt from this restriction, as are horses.

The Dire bat is a CR 2 , So you should be able to use them once you're third level. I don't know if you were under that level when the DM told you no, the dm didn't understand the rule, or if there's some other rule that either applies or the DM thought applied.

yeah - we got that part...

That's how we've been playing it up till now, and usually it's not a "Game Rule" preventing her from bringing her Bat G'wano, it's more of the "We're in the middle of the city - in a building... WHY do you want to bring in a riding beast?"...

This is the first time she is actually going to have the chance to USE G'wano - I'm running 8-03 tonight and she's going to be playing Chuck... and another player chimed at lunch today in with the comment "I hate to be a Kill-Joy, but I think Dire Animals were just recently banned... maybe with the release of Ultimate Wilderness or something?"

So, has there been a recent change banning Dire Animals?

I'll have to catch the answer to this at the shop - gotta run to make the start time!

Thanks for the input BNW.

The Exchange 4/5

i have seen nothing that rules she cant use it. the only problem will be how much it can carry while flying. to my knowledge, there is no real rule on light load verse heavy. also handle animal will be hard to do.


Jeff Morse wrote:
the only problem will be how much it can carry while flying. to my knowledge, there is no real rule on light load verse heavy

Well, there's the barding rules, which might be significant for a flying mount.

The Exchange 5/5

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Thanks for your input everyone!
Yeah, she finally got to use G'wano in a combat - flying around a battlefield, shooting (throwning) at the enemy Mooks. Great fun was had... and that's the point right?

Then, poor G'wano sucked up a crossbow bolt and she scrambled around post combat pestering all the other PCs to heal him... best phrase heard in game was "Can you lay on hands on my G'wano?"

LOL!

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